Money

Error leads to tax deadline extension for Canadians

Crossed wires at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) resulted in an apology Tuesday from the taxman and an extension of the deadline for Canadians to file their 2014 returns.

CRA on Tuesday formally extended the deadline for filing tax returns from April 30 to midnight on May 5.

Officials initially sent a message last week to those who prepare taxes, informing them the deadline had been extended to May 5. However, another message went out Monday saying the deadline was still April 30.

That message angered tax preparers who thought they had a week’s reprieve during the busiest season of the year.

“I didn’t even read the (second) e-mail, one of my colleagues phoned me,” he said.

His reaction at the time: “Now, I’m going have to put a pot of coffee on and stay awake all night for the next three nights.”

And that he did, staying awake all night Monday working to meet the deadline. He also phoned the agency to complain early Tuesday. Lautenschlager said the CRA told him the message was sent as a result of “human error.”

On Tuesday, the CRA was singing a different tune after coming under fire from National Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who ordered the department to reverse course.

“Our government has made it clear providing this incorrect information was unacceptable and, therefore, Minister Findlay has directed officials to ensure no Canadians are penalized for the CRA’s error,” Findlay’s spokesman, Rebecca Rogers, said.

A statement from the CRA said the agency takes “full responsibility for the error and our first priority is to ensure that no Canadian is negatively affected.”

This is the second year in a row Canadians have been given extra time to file their taxes. Last year’s deadline was also pushed to May 5 after the CRA’s computer system was compromised by the Heartbleed bug.